UNL has run the Institute for Online Teaching (IOT) to prepare and train instructors to teach online since 2002. The Teaching Online Learning Community (TOLC) is the latest IOT offering and is ideal for those new to online teaching or for those looking to brush up their online-teaching skills. Faculty and graduate students and staff with teaching responsibilities are welcome.
TOLC Summer 2025
TOLC learning materials have been built in Canvas. These materials are open to all. Join the summer learning community to discuss the wide world of teaching and learning online with your peers and instructional designers and to set aside weekly worktime where instructional designers will be on hand to assist you.
Click here to access the Teaching Online Learning Community Canvas site.
The Teaching Online Learning Community will run Summer 2025.
TOLC Schedule & Topics
| Week | Meeting Time | Content | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 23-27 | June 26 (Thursday) 9:30-11:00am | Module 0: Prepare | Kickoff Informative Session |
| June 30-July 4 | No meeting | July 4th Holiday | Enjoy your holiday. Be ready for Module 1 next week! |
| July 7-11 | July 10 (Thursday) 9:30-11:00am | Module 1: Getting Ready for Day One | Plan for a strong start to the term and compose an inclusive syllabus. |
| July 14-18 | July 17 (Thursday) 9:30-11:00am | Module 2: Designing Your Course for Everyone | Apply intentional course design to serve diverse learners. |
| July 21-25 | July 24 (Thursday) 9:30-11:00am | Module 3: Measurable, Visible Learning | Craft engaging assessment for your online course. |
| July 28-August 1 | July 31 (Thursday) 9:30-11:00am | Module 4: Building Online Communities | Create experiences that support social presence and better form communities online. |
TOLC Objectives
TOLC will help participants to better:
- Plan a stellar first day of class that sets an inviting and inclusive tone.
- Craft a more inclusive course syllabus.
- More soundly navigate the complexity of course design.
- Apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and digital accessibility principles to better meet the needs of their diverse student audience.
- Make learning visible by leveraging formative and summative assessments that are relevant and authentic.
- Develop social presence and engagement in their online community.
Certificate of Completion and Accessibility Notice
To earn a certificate of completion, participants must:
- Work through the weekly module content.
- Participate in Canvas discussions for each module.
- Complete the weekly module assignment and weekly module survey.
A synchronous Zoom session will run each Thursday morning during TOLC from 9:30 to 11:00am. The first part of this synchronous session will highlight and address notable items from the Canvas discussions, leaving the second, and longest, part as reserved worktime in your Canvas course. Participation in the synchronous sessions is highly encouraged but not required for the certificate of completion.
We have made great efforts to make TOLC and all its materials digitally accessible. Please reach out to Zach Manley (zmanley2@unl.edu) if you have needs or concerns. Additionally, please reach out if you discover something that is not as accessible as it should be or if you need an alternative format.
What You'll Need and Registration
Participants will need reliable internet access, a computer, Zoom, and Canvas access. Teaching a course in the fall is highly recommended as it will provide ample opportunities for you to put TOLC’s content into practice. If you have other needs, please contact Zach Manley (zmanley2@unl.edu.)
Registration for TOLC Summer 2025 will close June 20, 2025.